I can't stop listening to my own musical composition.

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Since this is a question that rather closely regards arts, I thought this'd be the best subforum to post this.

I've been making music as a hobby since summer-ish of 2012. Ever since I started, I've had this habit to listen to whatever song I finished on any given day on repeat endlessly - and I mean endlessly - for the rest of that day, if not the following week. I have no idea why I do it, but at the very least, I enjoy listening to my latest "masterpiece". (I use that word in quotes because I don't think too highly of myself as a serious musician.)

Do any of you other musicians have this habit?

Also, less important, but do you have any ideas as to what could cause this habit?

Yup, same goes for me whenever I finish composing a really nice quartet

I think one of the reasons is because you made it? I mean go figure, lol. But then it'd only make sense for you to love/like what you do which is in this case, making music. Perhaps you can feel a certain connection when you listen to the piece over and over again. Maybe every time you listen, certain emotions are evoked.

For me, I like to repeatedly listen to a piece I finished creating because there's a meaning and reason as to why I created the song. Listening to it over and over again makes me recall how I composed the piece, what was I doing exactly, how I felt. Sure, I can't remember everything exactly that happened but I guess it's being reminded of the process that goes behind making music that gives you the urge to listen to not stop listening to that certain piece you just finished.

I mean, I don't think whatever I just said makes sense but that's for me! ~

I relate. Although I no longer make music, I used to compose and record my pieces for decades of my life, and yes, I would usually listen back to a completed recording over and over again.

One reason, in my case, was because I wanted to closely examine everything about the recording, making sure I was happy with everything. I would multitrack on multiple instruments and with my voice, so there were many layers to have to listen to. Not that one doesn't listen back during the recording process. But after it too, I think many musicians are still listening "just to make sure" everything they laid down is indeed the way they needed it to be.

There is also just the sheer, simple joy of having finished the darn thing, often after blood, sweat and tears, and to be able to listen to it now as a complete thing that works and is good, is very satisfying. That's not even an ego thing, that's just a very basic "whew I made this and it's actually okay, go me!" thing.

Also, after working on something, it tends to get stuck in my whole being, and it's hard to break away from the project even though it's done, so I've kept on listening to it.

Then again, there comes a time when I never want to listen to the thing again, so long did I already work hard on it, hearing it over and over.

I do this, though mainly playing with an instrument or off the computer rather than playing back a recording. (I get wierded out by the sound of my recorded voice.) There's a certain amount of disbelief when I've finished something that I actually like the sound of. "Wait, I did THAT? Let's hear it again. How did I come up with that?" Like something I've created has taken on a life of its own.

Now that I mainly write things that I perform myself, doing this is a VERY useful habit. Within a week of finishing a song, I've effectively memorised it for life.

In all seriousness, I wonder if doing this is an autistic trait, a musician trait, or both?